Soil pollution is considered one of the biggest environmental disasters in the aftermath of Iraq’s invasion. The scope of it is114 sq kms on the surface

Director of soil reclamation at Kuwait Oil Company (KOC) Mansour Al-Khareji says the value of compensation for losses incurred by the Iraqi invasion, only for treating the soil, is estimated at $2.4 billion.

He mentioned in a press release, on sidelines of the inaugural session of the KOC-organised conference, themed reclamation of the Kuwaiti soil, that soil pollution is considered one of the biggest environmental disasters in the aftermath of Iraq’s invasion.

The scope of the pollution is at 114 square kilometres on the surface and 26 million cubic metres below it, he says, declaring that the treatment of the contaminated soil would begin in the northern areas due to water sources’ availability there.

Al-Khareji says the reparation cost is about KD 20 million ($66 million) and it might increase to KD 50 million ($165 million), with expansion of the operation. The reclamation process would be completed in at least 10 years. The Iraqi occupation forces, before withdrawal, set ablaze to a chain of oil installations, causing formation of many oil lakes, thus contaminating large swaths of the Kuwaiti territories. The occupiers had left behind explosives and other materials that contaminated the soil and sand.

Meanwhile, Duqm Refinery, a joint venture between Oman Oil Company (OOC) and Kuwait Petroleum International (KPI also known as Q8), signed seven loan agreements worth $4.6 billion with local, regional and international financiers.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, Q8 CEO and Chairman of Duqm Refinery Nabil Bourisli says today’s deal reflect the trust of international financiers in the Kuwaiti and Omani economies. Both economies have been resilient enough to stand the test of time and address the numerous global economic challenges," he says.

Bourisli lauds the steadily growing relationship between Kuwait and Oman, noting that the partnership in this refinery will open new horizons for cooperation in taping into the rich natural resources in both countries.

Furthermore, the Deputy Chairman of Duqm Refinery Helal Al-Kharousi says the international financial institutions realize the strategic importance of this project, which will drive economic growth in the region. The strategic maritime location of the project gives it a competitive advantage being in the path of international shipping lines in the Indian Ocean and the Arabian Sea, thus easing the process of transport in and out of the Gulf region, he pointed out.

Khaled Al-Mushaileh, Q8 Vice-President for Business Development and Joint Ventures, says the Kuwaiti banks, aware of the economic importance of this project, contributed nearly 32 per cent of the total funding for it.

The partnership between Q8 and OOC reflect the special relationship between Kuwait and Oman and is in keeping with the strategy of Kuwait Petroleum Corporation (KPC) for 2040, he affirmed. Q8 was established in 1983 as the international downstream arm of KPC; it is recognised as one of the world’s top ten energy conglomerates.

On his part, Mubarak Al-No’mani, financial manager of Duqm Refinery, says the financing for the project included the largest Sharia-compliant funding in the Sultanate of Oman which will be offered by Islamic banks.A total of 29 Islamic financial institutions from 13 countries are to cover 56 per cent of the costs of the project under guarantees from three international trade credit agencies, Al-No’mani added. The list of financiers include the National Bank of Kuwait (NBK), Kuwait Finance House (KFH), the Commercial Bank of Kuwait, Ahli United Bank (Kuwait), Credit Agricole Corporate and Investment Bank, KfW IPEX-Bank, Societe Generale, Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Bank, Bank Muscat, Boubyan Bank, Warba Bank, Banco Santander, the Bank of Tokyo- Mitsubishi (MUFG), Bank Dhofar and Qatar National Bank.

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